Receiving apparatus shared by multiple tuners

ABSTRACT

In a signal processing circuit of an LNB (Low Noise Block down converter), a power supply circuit is driven by DC voltage applied from four tuners via four signal input/output terminals to generate supply voltage for the LNB and equally distribute consumption current of the LNB among the four signal input/output terminals. Even if the level of the DC voltage from the four tuners is changed, currents of the same value flow through the four signal input/output terminals. Therefore, there is less noise compared with the conventional circuit having a signal input/output terminal allowing current to flow that varies.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to receiving apparatuses and particularly to a receiving apparatus shared by a plurality of tuners.

2. Description of the Background Art

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a structure of a receiving unit of a conventional satellite broadcasting system. Referring to FIG. 5, the receiving unit of the satellite broadcasting system includes an antenna 30 having a reflector 31 and an LNB (Low Noise Block down converter) 32, a receiver 33 having a DBS (Direct Broadcasting by Satellite) tuner 34, an FM demodulator 35, a video+audio circuit 36 and an amplifier 37, and a television receiver 38.

Radio waves α emitted from a satellite are supplied via reflector 31 to LNB 32. LNB 32 extracts from the received radio waves a image signals of a plurality of channels, amplifies the signals with noise kept low, and supplies an image signal of a channel selected by DBS tuner 34 to DBS tuner 34. An output signal of LNB 32 is supplied via DBS tuner 34 to FM demodulator 35 which FM-demodulates the output signal.

The FM-demodulated image signal is converted to a video signal and an audio signal by video+audio circuit 36, amplified by amplifier 37 and then supplied to television receiver 38. An image of the channel selected by DBS tuner 34 is displayed on the screen of television receiver 38.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing from the outside a structure of LNB 32. Referring to FIG. 6, LNB 32 has a casing member 41, and a feed phone 42 and a signal input/output terminal 43 are provided on the surface of casing member 41. Radio waves α reflected from reflector 31 of antenna 30 are supplied into an opening 42 a of feed phone 42. In casing 41, a signal processing circuit is provided for processing the radio waves α supplied to feed phone 42. Signal input/output terminal 43 is connected to DBS tuner 34 via a cable.

FIG. 7 is a circuit block diagram showing a structure of the signal processing circuit of LNB 32. Referring to FIG. 7, the signal processing circuit includes LNAs (Low Noise Amplifiers) 44 a and 44 b, bandpass filters (BPFs) 45 a-45 d, local oscillators 46 a and 46 b, mixers 47 a-47 d, a selector 48, an IF amplifier 49, a low-pass filter (LPF) 50 and a regulator 51.

A horizontally polarized wave signal φh and a vertically polarized wave signal φv received by feed phone 42 are respectively amplified by LNAs 44 a and 44 b with noise kept low. An output signal of LNA 44 a is supplied to bandpass filters 45 a and 45 c and an output signal of LNA 44 b is supplied to bandpass filters 45 b and 45 d.

Signals φh and φv have a frequency band of 10.7-12.75 GHz. Bandpass filters 45 a and 45 b pass only the frequency components in the range of 10.7 to 11.7 GHz of respective signals φh and φv. Bandpass filters 45 c and 45 d pass only the frequency components in the range of 11.7 to 12.75 GHz of respective signals φh and φv. Respective signals φh1, φv1, φh2 and φv2 passed through bandpass filters 45 a-45 d are supplied respectively to mixers 47 a-47 d.

Local oscillator 46 a generates a high-frequency signal of 9.75 GHz and supplies it to mixers 47 a and 47 b. Local oscillator 46 b generates a high-frequency signal of 10.6 GHz and supplies it to mixers 47 c and 47 d. Signals φh1 and φv1 are converted respectively by mixers 47 a and 47 b into respective IF signals φ1 and φ2 of 950-1950 MHz. Signals φh2 and φv2 are converted respectively by mixers 47 c and 47 d into respective IF signals φ3 and φ4 of 1000-2150 MHz.

Selector 48 selects any of four IF signals φ1-φ4 according to a DC voltage V1 and a clock signal CLK supplied from DBS tuner 34 via input/output terminal 43 and low-pass filter 50 and supplies the selected IF signal to DBS tuner 34 via IF amplifier 49 and input/output terminal 43. The DC voltage V1 is 18 V or 13 V. The clock signal CLK has a frequency of 22 KHz and an amplitude of 0.6 V. Low-pass filter 50 allows DC voltage V1 and clock signal CLK to pass while it does not pass IF signals φ1-φ4.

If DC voltage V is 18 V, signals φ1 and φ3 are selected. If DC voltage V1 is 13 V, signals φ2 and φ4 are selected. If no clock signal CLK is input, signals φ1 and φ2 are selected and signals φ3 and φ4 are selected if clock signal CLK is input. Accordingly, signal φ1 is selected if DC voltage V1 is 18 V and no clock signal CLK is input, signal φ2 is selected if DC voltage V1 is 13 V and no clock signal CLK is input, signal φ3 is selected if DC voltage V1 is 18 V and clock signal CLK is input, and signal φ4 is selected if DC voltage V1 is 13 V and clock signal CLK is input.

DC voltage V1 is also used as the supply voltage of regulator 51. Regulator 51 uses DC voltage V1 as the supply voltage to generate a DC constant voltage V2 of 9 V and a DC constant voltage V3 of 5 V. DC constant voltage V2 of 9 V generated by regulator 51 is applied to IF amplifier 49 as its supply voltage, and DC constant voltage V3 of 5 V generated by regulator 51 is applied to LNAs 44 a and 44 b and local oscillators 46 a and 46 b as their supply voltage.

In recent years, there arises a need to share one LNB by a plurality of DBS tuners 34. For example, referring to FIG. 8, an LNB 55 shared by two DBS tuners 34 is provided with one feed phone 57 and two signal input/output terminals 58 a and 58 b on a casing member 56.

Regarding such an LNB 55, there is a problem that how supply voltages V2 and V3 for the LNA, local oscillator and IF amplifier should be generated. For example, according to the following description in conjunction with FIG. 9, two signal input/output terminals 58 a and 58 b are connected to a power supply node 61 a of a regulator 61 via respective low-pass filters 59 a and 59 b and respective diodes 60 a and 60 b. Diodes 60 a and 60 b are provided for preventing, when one of the two signal input/output terminals 58 a and 58 b is supplied with 18 V and the other thereof is supplied with 13 V, current flow from one signal input/output terminal to the other signal input/output terminal to cause malfunction or breakdown of DBS tuners 34.

In this case, supposing that consumption current of LNB 55 is 200 mA, if DC voltages applied respectively to two signal input/output terminals 58 a and 58 b are the same (18 V or 13 V), currents of the same value (100 mA) flow through respective two signal input/output terminals 58 a and 58 b. However, if 18 V and 13 V are supplied respectively to signal input/output terminals 58 a and 58 b, current of 200 mA flows through signal input/output terminal 58 a and no current flows through signal input/output terminal 58 b. On the contrary, if signal input/output terminals 58 a and 58 b are supplied with 13 V and 18 V respectively, current of 200 mA flows through signal input/output terminal 58 b and no current flows through signal input/output terminal 58 a. For this reason, each time a channel is switched, current flowing from two DBS tuners 34 to LNB 55 greatly varies, generating noise. This noise causes a selector to malfunction, resulting in selection of a channel different from a desired channel or disorder of an image on a television receiver 38.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of the present invention is accordingly to provide a receiving apparatus which can be shared by a plurality of tuners while noise is reduced.

According to the present invention, a receiving apparatus includes a plurality of signal input/output terminals connected respectively to a plurality of tuners, an extraction/amplification circuit extracting/amplifying a plurality of image signals from received radio waves, a switch circuit provided correspondingly to each signal input/output terminal to select one image signal according to a level of DC voltage supplied from a corresponding tuner and supplying the selected image signal to the tuner, and a power supply circuit driven by DC voltage supplied from each signal input/output terminal to generate supply voltage for the extraction/amplification circuit and equally distribute consumption current of the extraction/amplification circuit among the signal input/output terminals. Therefore, even if DC voltages applied respectively to the signal input/output terminals have respective levels different from each other, or even if the level of the DC voltage for each signal input/output terminal is changed, a constant current flows through each signal input/output terminal. Consequently, there is less noise compared with the conventional receiving apparatus where the current flowing through each signal input/output terminal considerably varies.

Preferably, the power supply circuit includes a first voltage generating circuit provided correspondingly to each signal input/output terminal and driven by DC voltage applied via the corresponding signal input/output terminal to generate a first DC voltage, a second voltage generating circuit driven by DC voltage applied via at least one signal input/output terminal to generate a second DC voltage, and a transistor provided correspondingly to each first voltage generating circuit and having a first electrode receiving the first DC voltage generated by the corresponding first voltage generating circuit and an input electrode receiving the second DC voltage generated by the second voltage generating circuit for providing supply current from its second electrode to the extraction/amplification circuit. In this way, currents of the same value flow through respective transistors, and the sum of the currents of the transistors correspond to consumption current of the extraction/amplification circuit.

Still preferably, the power supply circuit further includes a plurality of diode elements connected respectively between the signal input/output terminals and a power supply node of the second voltage generating circuit. In this way, from any signal input/output terminal supplied with the highest DC voltage, the second voltage generating circuit receives DC voltage via a corresponding diode element.

Still preferably, the receiving apparatus further includes an amplification circuit provided correspondingly to each signal input/output terminal and driven by the first DC voltage generated by its corresponding first voltage generating circuit to amplify the image signal from its corresponding switch circuit and transmit the amplified image signal to the corresponding signal input/output terminal. In this way, the image signal can be amplified sufficiently. Further, as no supply voltage is applied to any amplification circuit not in use, reduction of power consumption is possible.

The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing from the outside a structure of an LNB according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram showing a structure of a signal processing circuit included in the LNB shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a structure of a selector in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a circuit block diagram showing a structure of a power supply circuit in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a structure of a receiving unit for a conventional satellite broadcasting system.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing from the outside a structure of an LNB in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a circuit block diagram showing a structure of a signal processing circuit included in the LNB in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing from the outside a structure of an LNB shared by two tuners.

FIG. 9 is a circuit block diagram for illustration of a problem of the LNB in FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a structure of an LNB 1 from the outside according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, LNB 1 includes a casing member 2, a feed phone 3 provided on the surface thereof, and four signal input/output terminals 4 a-4 d. Radio waves α reflected from a reflector 31 of an antenna 30 are supplied to an opening 3 a of feed phone 3. Within casing member 2, a signal processing circuit for processing the radio waves α supplied to feed phone 3 is housed. LNB 1 is shared by four DBS tuners 34. Four signal input/output terminals 4 a-4 d are connected respectively to DBS tuners 34 via cables.

FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram showing a structure of the signal processing circuit of LNB 1. Referring to FIG. 2, the signal processing circuit includes LNAs 5 a and 5 b, bandpass filters 6 a-6 d, local oscillators 7 a and 7 b, mixers 8 a-8 d, a selector 9, IF amplifiers 10 a-10 d, low-pass filters 11 a-11 d, and a power supply circuit 12.

A horizontally polarized wave signal φh and a vertically polarized wave signal φv received by feed phone 3 are converted into IF signals φ1-φ4 similarly to those converted in the conventional LNB 32. Specifically, signal φh is amplified by LNA 5 a and supplied to bandpass filters 6 a and 6 c. Signal φv is amplified by LNA 5 b and supplied to bandpass filters 6 b and 6 d. Signals φh1, φv1, φh2 and φv2 passing through respective bandpass filters 6 a-6 d are supplied to respective mixers 8 a-8 d. A high-frequency signal generated by local oscillator 7 a is supplied to mixers 8 a and 8 b and a high-frequency signal generated by local oscillator 7 b is supplied to mixers 8 c and 8 d. Signals φh1, φv1, φh2 and φv2 are converted respectively by mixers 8 a-8 d into respective IF signals φ1-φ4.

Referring to FIG. 3, selector 9 includes four sets of switch circuits 13 a-13 d and signal detection circuits 14 a-14 d. Signal detection circuits 14 a-14 d set any of four signals S1 a-S4 a, . . . , S1 d-S4 d at “H” (logical high) level of the activation level, according to DC voltages V1 a-V1 d and clock signals CLKa-CLKd supplied from four DBS tuners 34 via signal input/output terminals 4 a-4 d and low-pass filters 11 a-11 d respectively.

Switch circuits 13 a-13 d select any of IF signals φ1-φ4 according to output signals S1 a-S4 a, . . . , S1 d-S4 d of signal detection circuits 14 a-14 d and supply the selected IF signal to IF amplifiers 10 a-10 d.

Regarding switch circuit 13 a and signal detection circuit 14 a, if DC voltage V1 a is 18 V and clock signal CLKa is not input, signal S1 a is set at H level to select signal φ1. If DC voltage V1 a is 13 V and clock signal CLKa is not input, signal S2 a is set at H level to select signal φ2. If DC voltage V1 a is 18 V and clock signal CLKa is input, signal S3 a is set at H level to select signal φ3. If DC voltage V1 a is 13 V and clock signal CLKa is input, signal S4 a is set at H level to select signal φ4. Other switch circuits 13 b-13 d and signal detection circuits 14 b-14 d operate similarly to switch circuit 13 a and signal detection circuit 14 a.

IF amplifiers 10 a-10 d respectively amplify IF signals from respective switch circuits 13 a-13 d and supply them to signal input/output terminals 4 a-4 d. Low-pass filters 11 a-11 d respectively allow DC voltages V1 a-V1 d and clock signals CLKa-CLKd to pass while they do not pass IF signals. DC voltages V1 a-V1 d are also used as supply voltage for power supply circuit.

Referring to FIG. 4, power supply circuit 12 includes regulators 21 a-21 d, 27 and 28, diodes 22 a 14 22 d and 26 a-26 d, NPN bipolar transistors 23 a-23 d, and resistor elements 24 a-24 d and 25 a-25 d.

Respective power supply nodes of regulators 21 a-21 d are connected to respective output nodes of low-pass filters 11 a-11 d. Regulators 21 a-21 d respectively generate DC constant voltages V2 a-V2 d of 9 V using as respective supply voltages the DC voltages V1 a-V1 d passed through low-pass filters 11 a-11 d. DC constant voltages V2 a-V2 d of 9 V are used as respective supply voltages for IF amplifiers 10 a-10 d.

Diodes 22 a-22 d are connected between respective output nodes of regulators 21 a-21 d and respective collectors of transistors 23 a-23 d. Resistor elements 24 a-24 d are connected between respective emitters of transistors 23 a-23 d and a power supply node 28 a of regulator 28. Regulator 28 generates a DC constant voltage V3 of 5 V using voltage applied to power supply node 28 a as its supply voltage. DC constant voltage V3 of 5 V is used as supply voltage for LNAs 5 a and 5 b and local oscillators 7 a and 7 b.

Diodes 26 a-26 d are connected between respective output nodes of low-pass filters 11 a-11 d and a power supply node 27 a of regulator 27. Resistor elements 25 a-25 d are connected between an output node 27 b of regulator 27 and respective bases of transistors 23 a-23 d. Regulator 27 generates a DC constant voltage V4 of 8 V using voltage applied to power supply node 27 a as its supply voltage. DC constant voltage V4 of 8 V is uses as base voltage for transistors 23 a-23 d.

Suppose that 13 V is applied to signal input/output terminal 4 a and 18 V is applied to signal input/output terminals 4 b-4 d. Regulators 21 a-21 d output constant voltages V2 a-V2 d of 9 V respectively. 18 V is applied to regulator 27 from signal input/output terminals 4 b-4 d via diodes 26 b-26 d and regulator 27 outputs DC constant voltage V4 of 8 V. Accordingly, consumption current of LNAs 5 a and 5 b and local oscillators 7 a and 7 b, i.e., consumption current 4 i0 of regulator 28 is distributed among four transistors 23 a-23 d so that the same current i0 flows through each of the transistors 23 a-23 d. Consumption currents of regulators 21 a-21 d are respectively the sums of currents i0 flowing through respective transistors 23 a-23 d and currents flowing through respective IF amplifiers 10 a-10 d, therefore, respective consumption currents of regulators 21 a-21 d have almost the same current value. Since the base current of transistors 23 a-23 d is smaller enough than emitter current i0, current flowing through diodes 26 b-26 d is sufficiently smaller than current flowing through signal input/output terminals 4 a-4 d.

In this LNB 1, regardless of voltage (13 V, 18 V) applied to each of the four signal input/output terminals 4 a-4 d, currents of the same value flow through respective signal input/output terminals 4 a-4 d. Therefore, even if each of the four DBS tuners 34 connected to four input/output terminals 4 a-4 d switches its channel, there is no change in current flowing through signal input/output terminals 4 a-4 d and accordingly no noise is generated.

If only three signal input/output terminals 4 a-4 c among four signal input/output terminals 4 a-4 d are connected to tuners, consumption current of regulator 28 is equally distributed among three transistors 23 a-23 c and currents of the same value flow through three signal input/output terminals 4 a-4 c respectively. As no current flows through regulator 21 d and transistor 23 d, current is never consumed wastefully.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spirit and scope of the present invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A receiving apparatus connected to a plurality of tuners to extract/amplify a plurality of image signals from received radio waves and supply an image signal of a channel selected by each tuner to the tuner, comprising: a plurality of signal input/output terminals connected respectively to said plurality of tuners to transmit/receive signals; an extraction/amplification circuit extracting/amplifying said plurality of image signals from said received radio waves; a switch circuit provided correspondingly to each signal input/output terminal to select one of the image signals generated by said extraction/amplification circuit according to a level of DC voltage supplied from the tuner via the corresponding signal input/output terminal and supply the selected image signal to said tuner via the corresponding signal input/output terminal; and a power supply circuit driven by DC voltage supplied via each signal input/output terminal to generate supply voltage for said extraction/amplification circuit and equally distribute consumption current of said extraction/amplification circuit among said plurality of signal input/output terminals.
 2. The receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said power supply circuit includes: a first voltage generating circuit provided correspondingly to each signal input/output terminal and driven by DC voltage applied via the corresponding signal input/output terminal to generate a predetermined first DC voltage; a second voltage generating circuit driven by DC voltage applied via at least one signal input/output terminal among said plurality of signal input/output terminals to generate a predetermined second DC voltage; and a transistor provided correspondingly to each first voltage generating circuit and having a first electrode receiving the first DC voltage generated by the corresponding first voltage generating circuit and an input electrode receiving the second DC voltage generated by said second voltage generating circuit for providing supply current from its second electrode to said extraction/amplification circuit.
 3. The receiving apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said power supply circuit further includes a plurality of diode elements connected respectively between said plurality of signal input/output terminals and a power supply node of said second voltage generating circuit.
 4. The receiving apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising an amplification circuit provided correspondingly to each signal input/output terminal and driven by the first DC voltage generated by its corresponding first voltage generating circuit to amplify the image signal from its corresponding switch circuit and transmit the amplified image signal to the corresponding signal input/output terminal. 